25th Anniversary Bash!

February 25, 2017 - February 27, 2017 Starts 9:00am - Ends 9:00pm PST

Disneyland 1313 Disneyland Dr. Anaheim, California 92802

As of February 27, 2017, the Ultima Dragons will have been in existence for 25 years! How many fan-created online organizations have been around that long? We're doing something really BIG and really FUN for our 25th anniversary in Disneyland, California. Have you started saving yet? Let's celebrate what makes us unique!

Anniversary Party FAQGeneral

Who is invited?

Any prospective Dragon, Ultima fan, or fan of the Ultima Dragons is welcome to join us! You can learn a great deal more about us and our culture by reading the UDIC FAQ.

All former Origin or current Portalarium employees are invited too!

Who are the Ultima Dragons?

Hopefully, if you're here, you already know. ;) An Ultima Dragon is someone who has played an Ultima game, chosen a unique Dragon name, and has signed up for membership at udic.org.

What is Ultima?

Ultima is a series of computer role-playing games of the 1980s and 90s. If you haven't played an Ultima, you can find them at gog.com. Mastery of the Ultima games was never a requirement for Dragonhood, but you have to have played at least one, and it helps to appreciate the games and at least want to be part of something bigger.

Why are we celebrating?

Our club is unique. We're fan-made at a time very few people were online or had heard of the Internet. Over the past quarter-century we have built ourselves a culture that is one of a kind in the rapidly evolving world of computers. Many of us have met lifelong friends or partners through the Dragons, and see it as not just a club, but a family. Most importantly, though the last Ultima game was published years ago, we continue to be relevant and have had a continuous online presence. People still join to this day, and we are now over 16,000 strong.

Why Disneyland?

This decision was totally arbitrary! No, Disney has nothing to do with us specifically. We picked a place that could accommodate lots of people and would be a desirable destination that many would want to visit anyway. It had to be child-friendly since many of us have gotten older and started families since we were college students using the Internet for the first time. Southern California is a great place to go to get away from the winter chill of most of the Northern Hemisphere.

Being a Disney enthusiast isn't necessary to have a good time, but we have some Disney fans in our club. It's also the "Happiest Place on Earth!" What better place to have a really big party?

And rides. I like rides.

How do I sign up for this wondrous event?

Thanks to all of you who registered via Kickstarter! All "Serpent" pledges or "Dragon" and above pledges included a ticket to the "Fellowship Hall". This is where most of the Dragon-related events will be! Standard registration for Hall admission is now open via TicketLeap!

If you'd like to be on the mailing list and get updates about the event, send an e-mail with your Earth name and Dragon name to
ultimadragons25th@gmail.com.

Likewise, if you know any other Dragons who might like to participate, please pass the word along to them!

Event information

Do I have to visit a Disney park to participate?

Not at all! We're renting the North Exhibit Hall from the Disneyland Hotel on February 25 and 26, 2017. This will serve as our "Fellowship Hall" for the weekend. We'll have a number of performances, games, and activities there! Some will be Ultima-inspired, like the Guardian sound-alike contest! You can play games with other Dragons or hang out and converse. The atmosphere will be relaxed and casual, and just like the UDIC itself, is as much about the community as the games themselves.

How much will party admission cost?

At this time, you can sign up via TicketLeap. Thanks to the overwhelming support of our community, each adult admission to the Fellowship Hall is just $125! Children are $50 apiece with a paying adult. All family members must be present to claim the goodies, but if everything checks out, everyone in your family gets a bag of Dragon surprises and can opt in to share Saturday breakfast and both Saturday and Sunday lunches with us.

The Gourmet Dinner is sold separately and is a flat $102 per person.

Can I bring my friend/spouse/children?

Of course! We won't turn away anyone who really wants to come. Let us know how many adults and how many children you will be bringing, and their ages as of February 25, 2017. Children under 14 will be admitted at $50 a piece to the Fellowship Hall, and each adult ticket is $125. Meal prices are per person.

Do we get discounts on Disneyland or California Adventure park passes for attending the event? What about hotels?

We've secured a deal with Disney for discounted Disney park passes and a steeply reduced rate for Disneyland Hotel. You'll get an e-mail with your links to buy discounted hotel rooms or park passes as you register for Fellowship Hall tickets. If we don't already have your e-mail address, drop us a line at ultimadragons25th@gmail.com.

How many people will be coming?

So far, nearly 100 people from a dozen different countries have indicated interest or signed up. If you've never met another Dragon in person before, now's your chance!

When's the cutoff date to register?

The Kickstarter ended October 21st! Standard tickets will be available until December 11th, at a bargain price thanks to the results of the Kickstarter. After that, late-bird tickets will be available, but the price could go up, and we will be unable to guarantee any food provisions, snacks, or goodies. Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind chance to get UDIC loot!

What should I bring/wear?

The temperatures for southern California in February tend to be highs in the high 60s, lows in the high 40s at the coolest. Layers are advised in any case, since the weather can vary. Recommended would be a light jacket and a sweatshirt/sweater on top of a shirt. Very close to the event, we'll provide updated weather forecasts as soon as they are available.

What can you advise for international travellers?

Remember to update your passport, or procure one if you haven't already!

Many attending from outside the US are staying for a week or longer after the event! If you'd like to coordinate with others, we can announce your event through the e-mailing list, or you can post through the Facebook or Google+ events.

What's the timeline of events?

Friday, February 24: Most people will be flying in this day and checking into their hotels. We may arrange a dinner at Medieval Times that evening if enough are interested.

Saturday, February 25: Party Day in the Fellowship Hall! Most Dragon events will take place this day, including the games, Space Bards performance, and gourmet dinner (for those who included Hall tickets in their Kickstarter pledge or purchase the dinner ticket separately.)

Sunday, February 26: Dragons take on Disneyland! The Fellowship Hall will also be available for those not going in the parks.

Monday, February 27: Have a fun-filled day in California Adventure with other Dragons!

What special guests will be there?

The creator of Ultima, Richard Garriott, has enthusiastically confirmed his attendance!

The founder of the Ultima Dragons, Gold Dragon - Doug Ricket - will make a rare appearance!

Starr Long, Director of Ultima Online and now Shroud of the Avatar, requested to attend and we couldn't turn him down!

Denis Loubet, who painted most of the Ultima box covers, as well as a good deal of the manual and in-game art, is planning to attend!

Dr. Cat, who did most of the writing for Ultima VI and worked on several other Ultimas, would also like to join us!

The Space Bards, aka Recap - Dom John, Dan Span, and Stephen Goldman - will be playing a concert for us!

The Avatar, the real actor who played the Avatar in Ultima IX, JC Shakespeare, will be attending!

I can't come in person, but I want to help. What can I do?

Even if you can't be there in person, you can help out a lot by donating! If you're a musician, artist, or a writer and want to donate your time or talent, feel free to drop us a line!